The Shark's Suit by InsaneScriptist
Summary: Mammon really does take the best pictures. He's also willing to part with copies for a price.
The aftermath of Squalo's small birthday party was a bloody mess.
Actually there was less blood spilled than could be otherwise expected but that didn't mean that the disaster it was, wasn't noticeable. Property damage, slowly dissipating smoke trails and Lussuria's wails as the cake's remains were used as ammo during the brawl. At least the gifts survived, undamaged.
There are times when the Varia is too good at destroying things, although a lot of the damage was the fault of someone spilling drinks on Dino's turtle.
Despite all the chaos, Mammon had managed to capture a large number of praise worthy photographs.
Timoteo smiles as he looks through it all.
Reborn looks remarkably like his chameleon in that costume, which is fine because Leon looks like Reborn.
Dino appears to have become a cow-boy, but some things about that particular costume don't exactly make sense, like the horse mask he's trying to get off his head, with the help of his donkey assistant, Romario. Timoteo decides not to think about what the lack of realism in the Cavallone's Don's costume implies because except for the horse mask the rest of it looks as if it came from a business specializing in erotic costumes.
His chosen heir for the Vongola is in a fluffy sheep costume, looking horrified and panicky. His Storm is in a pajama costume complete with boots that make him appear doggish and a little wild. Some sort of mixed-breed? Young Tsunayoshi's Rain looks to be a splendid goldfish and clearly enjoying the melee with the person in the full body shark suit that can only be the Varia's Captain, Squalo Superbi. The sword from the inside of the fin is a clear evidence.
The Vongola's Ninth Boss is hard pressed not to chuckle over how very much the costume suits the elder swordsman.
The rest of the Varia's costumes also suit them. The Lightning is now an octopus, The Sun is now a swan and the Varia's Storm has pink and purple stripes, with a tail and ears straight out of Wonderland. Mammon even manages a few pictures with himself in it; a starfish wasn't what he was expecting, but it suits the ex-Acrobaleno. The younger illusionist is a sea urchin, which suits his prickly personality for all that it appears that his latest fruit hat has been impaled upon his spines.
It is however the pictures of his son that really test his ability to hold his face steady.
The costume that materialized on his wild child was a full body costume, for all that his face was shown under the hood. It honestly looks as if someone has managed to dress Xanxus in white tiger striped footy pajamas. There was even a tail and paw gloves. The glower when he realizes this is most impressive.
There are several photos dedicated to his son's surprise at his sudden costume change. There are several more as his flames burn the costume away, but judging by the stack the costume had been renewed during the brief brawl no less than five times.
"Yes, these are more than acceptable Mammon." He announces.
He orders for the ex-Acrobaleno to be paid, and the illusionist leaves.
Reborn appears from the shadows and tips his hat at him. "You're a formidable old man."
"It's not that Reborn. It's just as a father, I have the right to embarrass my son as I please."
"It's still practically blackmailing the Varia." The hitman points out.
"And have you ever wondered why in that future that won't happen, that the Varia still proclaim allegiance to myself?"
"And canny too."
"I'm thinking I need to place this one on my desk. Get it enlarged a bit."
"And daring." Reborn states after snorting over the photo.
"I prefer to think of it as an unusual method of bonding with my remaining son."
"Through blackmail and psychological warfare?"
"Have you met my son? He won't respect anything less."
"Put that one on your wall." Reborn advised, pointing towards a specific photo. "It's suitably dramatic."
"The glare is most impressive." Timoteo agreed.
In which, I'm nice to the 9th for once and instead of trying to be paternalistic and soothing he meets Xanxus on his own terms, in ways that Xanxus can respect.